Author Archives: Bonnie Halda

A great turnout from our volunteer crew over the past two weeks saw a lot of small jobs get done, including general clean-up of areas above and below decks, and a very big job is almost done – the removal of the winter cover frames! If you’d like to join our crew and help get Gazela ready for the summer, please contact us at volunteer@gazela.org

Bring your own picnic dinner and watch the fireworks show at Penn’s Landing with front row seats from the deck of the Tall Ship Gazela. The fireworks will be launched from a barge in the middle of the Delaware River, just a few hundred yards from Gazela’s deck.

Please note, tickets are non-refundable. In the event of rain, tickets will be good for whatever evening Penn’s Landing re-schedules this fireworks events. Tickets may not be redeemed for the fireworks show occurring on July 1st. That show is sold out for a private event.

It was with great sorrow that we learned of the passing of Sean Connelly on Tuesday, April 10. Sean was a valued and much-loved member of Gazela‘s crew, and will be dearly missed. A memorial page has been set up at http://gazela.org/memorial_sean. Our thoughts are with Sean’s loved ones at this difficult time.

The winter cover on Gazela will soon be coming down and our volunteer crew has lots of work to do as the weather continues to improve, including painting, rigging, and minor repairs. One of the major projects we accomplished this winter was sealing the deck forward of the break. Earlier this year the Guild hired a team of professional caulkers, and our volunteer crew was kept busy reefing the deck seams for the caulkers. Want to join our crew and help us prepare Gazela for the summer season? Please send us an email at volunteer@gazela.or

Our dedicated volunteers have put in over 4700 hours of work on Gazela and Jupiter this year, keeping their maritime history alive and sharing their stories with thousands of visitors.

In June 2016, Gazela sailed down the coast to Sail Baltimore and Norfolk’s Harbor Fest, reaching 1,500 guests over the three week trip.

Back in our Philadelphia home port our boats have welcomed visitors ranging from families at Pennsylvania Coast Day to high school classes from Camden.

The National Park Service and Maritime Administration made a contribution towards preserving Jupiter‘s legacy through a National Maritime Grant. This matching grant will support dry-docking the 114-year-old tug and move her towards meeting the necessary safety requirements to make her history more accessible.

But volunteer labor and project grants can’t do it alone. We need your help to keep these boats afloat. Over the next year, the Guild has an ambitious plan to increase our educational outreach through new partnerships, embark on regular training sails to foster seamanship skills among our volunteer crew, and plan events to raise awareness of these unique vessels throughout the Philadelphia community and engage more people in preserving their legacy. You can help us preserve this heritage and bring that passion to others. Your Giving Tuesday support makes this possible!

Click on the link below to support PSPG with a tax-deductible donation!

Discover all that Pennsylvania’s coast has to boast at Pennsylvania Coast Day. This free festival will take place at Walnut Plaza (Columbus Avenue at Walnut Street) on Penn’s Landing on September 10, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Gazela will be open for free tours during the event.

Seven Deadly Seas is a theater-in-the-round-and-under-the-stars experience that was listed in TimeOut New York’s newsletter as “Best of the Week”. Combining live music,elaborate props, original comedy, and stunning burlesque, Seven Deadly Seas is known for creating shows call back to old vaudeville times, while taking a fresh look at comedy, politics and “entertainment for grown-ups.”

As in previous shows in the series, The Greater of Two Evils explores current political events through the highly warped lens of real-life pirates Calico Jack Rackham, Anne Bonney, and Mary Reed. This time, our heroes awaken from one hell of a bender to discover they have made some questionable choices while under the influence. This much-too-merry band must now fight, sing, and strip their way out of the mess they’ve gotten themselves into. The show will be performed in the round aboard Gazela and will feature live music, dancing girls, sword fights, and a variety of classic vaudeville-style entertainment.

Proceeds will help support the Philadelphia Ship Preservation Guild’s efforts to restore and maintain the historic Tall Ship Gazela and Tug Jupiter.

Tickets can be purchased either online or at the door (cash only at door.) Thursday, September 1st will be a discounted preview night. VIP tickets will be available Friday through Sunday.

Tickets are now on sale to watch the Penn’s Landing fireworks show from the deck of Tall Ship Gazela. The fireworks will be launched from a barge in the middle of the Delaware River, just a few hundred yards from Gazela‘s deck. This event could sell out, so don’t delay! Purchase your tickets at: brownpapertickets.com

Gazela is back in Philadelphia, her home port, after a three week sail in the Chesapeake Bay. She is docked at Penn’s Landing in front of the Summerfest roller rink. Visitors are welcome to stop by and see her, and Tug Jupiter, too, this summer!